Hope of America

Eryn has been in 5th grade this year, learning US History. For the Freedom Festival in Provo, they have a huge performance each year featuring 5th graders from several different schools in the area. It was called "The Hope of America." They have been learning a bunch of fun patriotic songs all year, and on May 5th they met in the Marriott Center at BYU to perform. They had a total of 7200 kids involved, so they had to separate it into two different performances. One on Tuesday, and one on Wednesday. Eryn's was the Tuesday performance. They gave each student a T-shirt (either red, white, or blue) and set them up in a flag formation. It was VERY cool to see. We got there later than we had planned, due to traffic, so seating was hard to find. We noticed that there were some seats close to the front, but they were roped off. They were reserved "for invitation only," but after a little questioning... Jared found out that they would open it up to everyone at 7:10 (the performance would start at 7:30), so we patiently waited, hoping that they wouldn't fill up. At 7:10 we were able to get some really great seats. We were still clear across the arena from where the kids were performing, but we were still able to find Eryn in the crowd. I'm super patriotic,(I even cry when the flag goes by in a parade) and I think my tears started sneaking out before they had even started singing. Just seeing this HUGE human flag and seeing all these kids who are being taught patriotism... I'm a bawl baby!! The songs were awesome. The kids were amazing! There was dancing, singing, video presentations to go along with some of the songs (tributes to the military, one about Abe Lincoln, etc.) It was absolutely awesome! I could have gone the next day and watched it all over again (except that Eryn wouldn't have been in it). I LOVED it, and Jared and the kids loved it, and Eryn thought it was the coolest thing in the world to be involved in. I LOVE AMERICA!!

Fathers and Sons

Every year there is a special campout just for dads and their boys. It's all to commemorate the restoration of the priesthood. I didn't know much about it while I was growing up, because my dad just had us girls. Now that I have sons of my own, they finally have the opportunity to go with their dad! This was Hayden's first year going, and he was SO excited to go camping with Daddy and Bryson. They went to Mutual Dell (in American Fork Canyon) on May 8th this year. It was the whole Stake this year, so Bryson got to see a lot of his little buddies from school, which he thought was just the coolest! Hayden, loving dirt like he does, was in HEAVEN. They went for a little hike, ate hot dogs for dinner, played a little frisbie, and hung out by the fire. I could hardly wait to hear about their adventures. It was still pretty cold up in the canyon, but they boys didn't even care. They had fun sleeping in the tent, and being the little "heaters" that they are, kept Jared nice and toasty! They had a really fun time. I do wish that Jared would have handed the camera to someone so he could be in a picture with the boys, but he got a few cute ones of them having fun.

What did the girls and I do, you ask? We had a girls' night... Kaitlyn and I went over to my friend's house for a little "girl" time for a little while, then we went back home to hang out with Eryn, popped some popcorn and watched Bedtime Stories - funny movie, by the way. They even ended up sleeping in my bed.

Dirt Monster

Hayden loves one thing almost as much as he loves trains... DIRT. We have a spot in our side/back yard where there is no grass. Hayden discovered that it is a GREAT place to dig. It has kept him very entertained when I've had things I needed to do (which basically tells me that I need to get a sandbox). He's got cars, tractors, shovels, you name it out there to dig with. He makes trenches, hills, and mostly a mess, but he has the best time doing it. By the time he comes inside, he is covered from head to toe in dirt. Atleast sand kind of brushes off. Not dirt. (Another good reason to get a sandbox).

I LOVE Being a Mom!

I had such a great Mother's Day. My boys came into my room to wake me up, and little Hayden had such a huge grin on his face when he said, "Mommy, it's MOTHER'S DAY!" and gave me a big hug. Then Bryson handed me the best card ever. I had a GREAT laugh!

If you can't read it, it says: Sometimes you get mad at me, but I love you a lot! I got a great kick out of that one. I almost felt a little guilty that THAT would be what he would think of, but... 6-yr-olds... gotta love 'em! He also had made this cute little "sticky note" holder at school. So cute!

Kaitlyn gave me this cute flower pot she made at Activity Day, the vase she made at Girl Scouts, and the card she just made at home. Another good laugh from that card... she's creative!


Then, Eryn and Hayden: (both of them gave me multiple cards, but I just took pictures of these ones.) They were really sweet. The magnet Eryn made was super creative, and the back of Hayden's cards were signed with "H"... the only letter of his name that he can write on his own, but it's his signature.



And Jared wrote me the sweetest note ever (which I won't share on here and embarrass him). We are finally getting a new computer this week, so that's my Mother's Day from him for the next several years... HEHE.

Of course the Primary kids sang in Sacrament Meeting (along with the Relief Society... it was a really neat song where the kids ask a question and the moms answer it). Then... after 6 and a half years of being a Bishopric Widow (just kidding), my husband and the rest of the bishopric were released and a new bishopric was called. Jared has been serving as the 2nd counselor in the Bishopric since before we even had our boys. I was pregnant with Bryson when he was called. So half of our kids have never known any differently, and the other half don't even remember anything else. It will be so great to have him sitting with us in Sacrament Meeting again. It was really bittersweet, and there were a lot of tears shed. They were a very good bishopric, and so many good things happened in our ward while they were serving. We have been so blessed as a family during those 6 1/2 years, too. But the new bishopric that has been called will be great! I wasn't surprised at all by who was called. They are great men.

After church, all the moms got a huge candy bar (which of course I shared with my kiddos) and then we went over to my sister Jana's house for Mother's Day dinner with my Mom and Dad, and my other sister Jodie and her hubby, and of course Jana's family. (We missed you Young Family!) I am so grateful to be a mom. I have the best kids in the world, and I'm so honored that Heavenly Father trusted me with them. I love them so much, and I hope they know that... and thankfully they are forgiving of my many mistakes (and even when I get mad at them, as Bryson's card said!)

Moms

Since it's Mother's Day, I thought I'd do a little post to honor the moms in my life. First of all, my own mom (pictured above with me and my bunny... and all these years later, she still looks almost the same - updated of course, but still just as beautiful and young looking!). She is the BEST! I hope she realizes how much I appreciate all that she has done for me in my life. Thanks mom... for teaching me how to cook, how to sew (though I'm nowhere near as good as you), how to clean, how to be a good mom... thanks for letting me take piano lessons, and making sure I was able to continue for as long as I did - it's definitely been a blessing. Thanks for supporting me in all my recitals, band concerts, choir concerts, football and basketball games when I was cheering, for making my wedding dress (I know it wasn't easy, but I LOVED that it was made by you), for being there anytime I've needed you. Thanks for continuing to be one of my best friends... and for loving Jared like your own son... and for being an awesome Grandma. I hope someday I can be like you.

I've also been blessed with a wonderful Mother-in-law. (And like she always says, that in-law part is just a formality). Thanks for raising such a wonderful son... for teaching him how to serve, how to love, to cook, clean, make good decisions, and all the other things you taught him. He is a wonderful man, and I know it's because he's had such wonderful parents. Thanks for accepting me and treating me like your own daughter. We love you... and wish you were closer!

We've also been blessed with the best Grandmothers! I sure do miss my sweet Grandmas. Grandma Chesnut - I loved shopping with her, visiting with her, playing Rack-o with her. She always came to my concerts, and made sure we had the things we needed. Grandma Grace - who wanted to make sure we all knew she loved us the same... no favorites. I loved the cousin sleepovers at her house. And she helped teach me to drive! She was a great example of service and love. Jared's Grandma Schafer... we miss her. I wish I could have known her better. MaMa Stafford - we sure wish we could see her more often. She is a fantastic cook... the one time that Jared told me my rolls ALMOST tasted like MaMa's, I took it as the ULTIMATE compliment. We love to eat at MaMa's house. She's awesome!

14 Years!!!

Wow! We are celebrating 14 years of marriage today. I can hardly believe it's been that long. I'm SO not old enough to have been married that long, am I? 15 years ago, this funny, cute cook at the Olive Garden stalked me until I agreed to go out with him (just kidding, it wasn't REALLY stalking... ) Our first date was playing pool and bowling at the Wilkinson Center on the BYU Campus. It started late, because I had been to a High School graduation with my sister Jess, and we got home late. Jared actually thought I had stood him up. No sir! I would NEVER!!! I was nervous, though... but we had fun. I was kinda shy, and Jared wasn't sure if I would ever say a whole lot, but he stuck it out, and after a few dates he found out that I really do talk, maybe even too much! He actually asked if I would think he was crazy if he told me he wanted to marry me... I said no, because I already knew I wanted to marry him! We kept that little information to ourselves, knowing our parents would think we were crazy, and didn't make it an "official" engagement until December, when he took me to Temple Squre to see the Christmas lights... then he got down on one knee and asked me officially. We were married on May 5, 1995 in the Salt Lake Temple. It has been an amazing 14 years filled with laughter, adventure, and the addition of four awesome kids! I'm going to steal my sister's idea, and post one thing I love about Jared for each year we've been married. Shouldn't be too hard, he's the best!

1. He makes me laugh EVERY SINGLE DAY!

2. He tells me he loves me every day.

3. He tells me that he thinks I'm beautiful... every day!

4. He LOVES being a dad, and LOVES spending time with our kids.

5. He works hard to support our family

6. He is always trying to make sure I'm happy... he does little things all the time that he knows I will love!

7. He honors his priesthood and magnifies his callings. He ALWAYS does his best!

8. He is the BEST example of service and Christlike love. I want to be like him someday. He serves others without hesitation.

9. He is a GREAT cook and actually really enjoys it!

10. He definitely does more than his share around the house. He is GREAT at cleaning and organizing.

11. He is my BEST FRIEND. We love hanging out together - playing games, watching movies, talking... you name it!

12. He is a great listener, and always has advice when I need it.

13. He is supportive of all my little obsessions and projects. He lets me do way more than I should be allowed to do!

14. He is still just as handsome as the day I married him... maybe even more so.

There are SO many more reasons that I love him. He really makes me happy. This has truly been the best 14 years of my life, and I know that it will only get better. Here are a few of our wedding pictures. I'm sure you will find them as funny as I do - we seriously look like a couple of KIDS! Has it really been that long?